WaterSportDirectory.com - A guide and resources web directory that offers all things water sport about such as swimming, diving, kitesurfing, sport fishing, underwater, water polo, windsurfing, water skiing & wakeboarding.
 

Archive for the ‘Windsurfing’ Category

Windsurfing Equipment Overview

Monday, November 9th, 2009

One of the most entertaining and technically versatile water sports is windsurfing. It combines aspects of wakeboarding, surfing, and sailing into a single sport. A set of windsurfing equipment includes some items common to most water sports, such as a wetsuit. If you are planning to perform any tricks, no matter what the means of transportation you should wear a helmet to protect yourself and windsurfing is no exception. You will also need a board. Windsurfing boards differ from other surfing boards in many ways. Firstly they sport a universal joint in the middle of the board to which your sail attaches. The U joint allows swiveling and angling of the sail in any direction, which gives a windsurfer the freedom of movement necessary to perform many of the tricks they do.

After the board, you will need a sail. Windsurfing sails are generally triangular, with the hypotenuse being the vertical edge of the sail. The sail is held taut with the help of wishbone booms leading from the mast to the trailing edge of the sail. These allow the sail to be piloted from either side by the wind surfer. With a sail and a board covered, there is one major component left in windsurfing, the harness.

A windsurfing harness attaches the rider to the rig. Harnesses allow for longer excursions by taking the weight and tension of the sail off the rider’s arms and placing it on their torso. Less stress on the arms leads to lowered fatigue and more precise maneuvering. There are harness designs to go around the rider’s lower back and waist for back support, around their chest for upper back support and padding, or around their thighs and buttocks for seat like support. The harness is attached to the rig via harness lines that can be adjusted to suit the preferred neutral position of a rider.

Even with all the right windsurfing equipment, you’re probably not ready to set sail without lessons. Maneuvering a sailing device can take some practice, and knowing what to do when isn’t as intuitive as professionals make it look. A windsurfing lesson is a good idea for anyone looking to pick up the sport.

Windsurfing Board Bag

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Windsurfing is an exciting adventure sport that involves skillful use of various equipments. The windsurfing kit comprises mainly of the surf board, the sail and the mast. You can choose different types of surf boards, masts and sails depending upon your expertise and wind conditions. While buying surf boards, it is also a good idea to choose a suitable windsurfing bag, which makes it easy to carry the board as well as protect it.

Windsurfing board bags are available in various patterns and specifications. One of the most commonly used windsurfing bags is the travel bag which comprises of good padded sidewalls for better protection. These bags also comprise of internal straps that hold the board safely in place. It is recommended that you opt for good foam-padded windsurfing board bags that offer double protection for your surf boards, especially from dings and daily wear and tear.

While purchasing a board bag, it is recommended to opt for bags with white bottoms. This avoids over-heating of the surf boards and keeps them away from dust and dirt. While purchasing windsurfing bags opt for bags that have zippers made of nylon reinforced polyester zippers. These zippers are corrosion-free and highly durable, especially if you frequent beaches for surfing. You can also choose bags that have retractable shoulder straps and are easy to adjust.

There are surf board bags available which comprises of protective features like vinyl-inforced ends, solar reflective cover and fin slots. The reflective solar covers ensure that the boards are protected from intense heat. Most bags available these days not just accommodate the surf board but also other parts like sails, masts and booms. A medium sized board bag is usually capable of carrying only one surf board, a maximum of 3 sails and 2 masts. There are several bigger board bags available that can even accommodate up to 4 surf boards. These bags comprise of several internal compartments and straps that can accommodate the other parts safely.